Calliope River Historical Village facts for kids
,_relocated_in_2003_to_Calliope_River_Historical_Village,_2014.JPG)
The Calliope River Historical Village is a fun open-air museum where you can explore old buildings and learn about history. It's located right next to the Calliope River in River Ranch, Queensland, Australia. The Port Curtis Historical Society helps run this amazing place.
Contents
Discovering the Past: How the Village Started
The Calliope River Historical Village began because people wanted to save old things! In 1979, the Shire of Calliope celebrated 100 years. This event helped collect many historical items. It also led to the creation of the Port Curtis Historical Society.
Around that time, a new bridge was being built over the Calliope River for the Bruce Highway. This project created some extra land. The local council decided this land would be perfect for a historical village. After some preparation, the village opened in 1983. The very first building to arrive was the Ambrose railway station.
Exploring the Village: What You Can See
The museum has many old buildings from the local area. These buildings were moved here to be preserved. Inside, you can find exhibits showing what everyday life was like long ago. There are also displays about railway history.
Raglan Memorial Hall: A Place for Fun
The Raglan Memorial Hall was built around 1932. For many years, people used it for dances and other community events. It was a lively place until 1990. After that, it sat empty for a while. In March 2002, the hall was moved to the village. The mayor of Calliope Shire, George Creed, officially reopened it.
,_relocated_in_2003_to_Calliope_River_Historical_Village_(closeup),_2014.JPG)
Yarwun Railway Station: Your Welcome Stop
The old Yarwun railway station was also moved to the village. It reopened in June 2003. Today, it serves as the ticket office and a small shop (kiosk) for visitors.
Railway Carriage No. 1353: A Journey Through Time
A wooden railway carriage, number 1353, was built in Ipswich in the early 1940s. This carriage traveled on many train routes. One famous route was the Sunshine Mail, which went from Brisbane all the way to Cairns. Later, the Sunlander train took over this route in the 1960s.
When the carriage was no longer needed for passengers, Queensland Rail moved it to the village. It arrived on June 1, 1989. Now, this historic carriage is used as a tourist information center.
Special Monument: Honoring a Surveyor
Right outside the village entrance, you'll find a special monument. It's one of the Q150 historical survey markers. These markers were placed in 2009 by the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute.
This particular monument honors Francis Peter MacCabe. He was the very first surveyor of Gladstone. In 1853, the Government of New South Wales asked MacCabe to lead a team of surveyors. Their job was to explore the Port Curtis area and help set up a new settlement there.
